Tag



TAG

Fil'edNov. s. 192e INVENTO MM ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

TTS TENT OFFICE.

HENRY E. KONDOLF, 0F NEW' YORK, Y.7 ASSGNOR '10 THE LOX SEAL CORPORA- TION, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAG.

Application led November 3, 1926. Serial No. 145,938.

My present invention rela'es to tags, and has particular reference to tags of the character which are designed for inseparable association with articles of merchandise.

Before proceeding to describe my invention in detail, l will premise that dealers in merchandise are frequently confronted with the dificultyof having tags interchanged or removed by defrauding customers. rlhe present invention relates to tags of the character whose structural nature renders it possible to associate the tags irremovably with articles of merchandise, these tags being generally provided with inaccessible pockets in to which the opposite ends of a binding tie may be irremovably positioned. More particularly, my present invention relates to a tag wherein a binding tie is provided having adjustable locking tips at its opposite ends, it being contemplated that one of the ends will be initially positioned in an irremovable manner within the pocket while the other end will constitute a free threading end. rlhe latter is designed to be threaded through a buttonhole, or a similar portion of the article of merchandise, and the invention contemplates that this end will thereupon be also irremovably positioned within the pocket, thereby rendering it impossible to remove the tag from the article without mutilating eitherthe article, the tag, or the tie.

n spite of the provision of tags of this character, it has been found that defrauding persons will go so far as to painstakingly manipulate the ends of the tie so as to remove them in an undetectable manner from the pocket. Thus, where the locking tip comprises a normally transverse element which may be adjusted into alignment with the tie, it frequently happens that dishonest persons will painstakingly manipulate the lock-l ing tip, even while the latter is within the pocket, so as to reposition it in alignment with the tie and thereby enable surreptitious withdrawal ofthe tie from the pocket.

My present invention aims to provide a tag wherein this last mentioned dishonest procedure is rendered practically impossible.

Another object of the inventiony is to provide a tag having the general characteristics of the tags referred to, but wherein the constituent parts are so arranged and constructed as to render the irremovability of the tie ends practically perfect, while at the saine time retaining the structural nature of the tag and its constituent parts in simple and inexpensive form.

One feature of the invention lies in providing a tag wherein a pocket is provided, said pocket being wholly sealed with the exception of an opening in a wall thereof, wherein a binding tie extends through said opening and has a locking tip disposed within 'the pocket; and wherein said tip is largerl than the opening and is therefore unwithdrawable through the opening.

This seemingly impossible construction and combination of parts is rendered possible by the structural features of my invention, and by the method of causing the association between the tie and the pocket.

@ne feature of the invention lies in providing' the pocket wall with complementa ry` defiectable portions which normally define an opening too small for the passage of the tip, but which are momentarily deflectable into positions which enlarge said opening under certain conditions.

Another feature lies in combining with such a pocket, a. tie element having a locking tip which is normally in a locking posi` tion relative to the tie, but which is adjustable o-ut of said locking position; and in so vconstructing the deflectable portions of the wall so that the momentarily enlarged opening referred to will permit passage of the tip only when the latter is out of locking position. 1n this manner, momentary adjustment of both the tip and the wall portions first out of and then bacl to normalcy will permit the tip to pass into the pocket and to be thereafter irremovably locked wit-hin said pocket. f

For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may herein- ,after appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings in which--` Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a tag embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken sub stantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. Zwith the elements in different relative positions; and

Fig. i is a plan view of a tag embodying a slight modification. Y

leii'erring to the drawings, and particularly to 1, it Will be observed that the tag comprises a body portion 10 which may advantageously be constituted 01"' overlying plies suitably arranged and constructed so to provide a locking chamber or pocket 11 aojacent to one end of the l have shown the tag associated with a binding tie 12 having one end irremovably positioned Within the pocket 11 and having the other end 13 lree and ready to be threaded through an article ott' merchandise. lt will be understood that the end 13 Will subsequently be positioned Within the poclret 11 in an irre movable manner, thereby locking the tag to the article.v

In the embodiment shoivn in Fig. 1,1 have shoivn the pocket 11 provided with a top Wall 111 wherein tivo spaced openings are provided. 1t is through one or" these openings that the inner end ol' the tie 12 extends, and it is through the other opening that the tree end 13 ot the tie is designed to be threaded.

This second opening is more clearly .shown in Fig. 2. lt Will be observed that l have provided complementary Wall portions 15 Which tend to seal the pocket When they are in alignment With the main portion of the Wall 14, but which serve to momentarily provide an enlarged opening when they are invardly deilect-ed as shown in Fig. 2. The mater'al oil the Wall 111 is preterably o1 a character Which is slightly resilient, Whcreby the cooperating portions 15 will normally assume a position in .substantial alignment with the Wall 14e rllhe portions 15 are also provided in such a manner that they are del'lectable only in one direction, viz, inwardly; it being understood that outward deflection would be possible only if access could be obtained to the interior of the pocket.

ln Fig. 2 l have clearly shown the type of binding tie which l associate with a tag having a Wall 111 of the character referred to. lt Will be observed that the end o1 the binding tie 12 is provided With a tip 13 which comprises locking element, this tip being adjustable with respect ,to the tie so as to position it into and out ot locking positions. The normal position ot' the tip is shown in wvherein it Will be observed that the tip 13 is substantiallyV transverser with respect to the tie 12. In Fig. 2 I have shown in an exaggerated manner how the tip may be momentarily adjusted into an abnormal position wherein it is in substantial alignment With the tie 12. lt is during this abnormal positioning of the tip that ingress to the pocket is rendered possible by means of the present invention.

needles lt Will be observed that the tip 13 is of greater Width than that of the tie 12. It -will also be observed that l have shown one end oit the tip 13 provid-ed with apoint 16 Which facilitates its passage through the Wall of the poclret; but it Will be understood that as 'to certain phases of the invention the attenuated end of the tip is not essential but only desirable.

Vhen the tip 13 is momentarily adjusted into substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, the pointed tip 16 may be applied to the Wall portions 15, and by exerting pressure upon the tip, the wall portions 15 may be made to deflect inwardly out of normal positions so as to provide a momentarily enlarged opening through the Wall 14E. The portions 15 are so constructed that this enlarged opening is just suticient to allow/.passage of the tip 13 therethrough. As soon as the tip has passed into the pocket, tivo things Will happen. First, the tip will resume its normal position as shown in Fig. 3. Secondly, the Walls 15 will resume their normal positions (due to their resilience), thereby snugly embracing the tie 12 and sealing the wall 14.

Although l have described the Wall portions 15 as being Slightly resilient, nevertheless it Will be understood that this feature is not essential, because the invention contemplates that after the tie has been positioned as shown in Fig. 3, a slight retractive pull upon the tie 12 Will servo to return the Wall portions 15 to their normal positions whether they are resilient or not.

The iinal positioning of the tie with respect to the pocket is clearly shown in Fig. 3 wherein it will be observed that an almost impossible situation exists. The pocket 11 is totally sealed with the exception of a single opening through which the tie 12 extends. l/"Vithin the poclret, and carried by the tie, is a locking tip 13 larger in all dimensions than the tie 12; and inasmuch as the opening through which the tie 12 extends is barely large enough to embrace the tie 12, this opening` is smaller than the locking tip 13. Hence the latter is absolutely unwith'drawable through the Wall 14C.

In Fig. 4 l have shown `a tag provided with a Wall 14 wherein only one set of complementary portions 15 have been provided. lt Will be understood that in a construction of this character both ends of the tie element will extend through the Wall 1a at the same point.

It Will thus be observed that I have provided a tag which is extremely eiicient in fulfilling its contemplated functions and Which is simple of construction and hence inexpensive to manufacture. It will also be observed that Where a pointed tip 13 is employed, as shown in the igures, the complementary Wall portions 15 may, if desired, be

lll() CIK provided and formed by the mere application of the tip to the vwall lll. That is, it the wall l/-l is unp-eriorated, the application of the tip 13 in the manner shown in Fig. 2 will puncture the wall le in a p'eculiarfmanner which will automatically provide the delectable portions retered to. he inward detlecting ci' these portions will permit the passage of the tip, and the subsequent reversion to normal positions, both ol' the tip and ot the wall portions, will seal the tip within the pocket in a manne1 whose description renders it at :first reading unbelievable. rhis sealing of the tip, and hence ot the binding tie, is extremely etlicient, and l have found that no amount ot painstaking eorts can withdraw the tip from the pocket without permanently mutilating some portion ot the tag or tie.

It will be obvious that many changes in the details herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of my invention may be made by those Vskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ot the invention as expressed in the appended claims. lt is therefore intended t-hat these details be interpreted as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use., what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent isl. ln a tag of the character described, the combination with a tie element having a locking tip which is normally' transverse to the tie but which is adjustable into alignment with the tie, ot a pocket wall having complementary deilectable portions which normally deline an opening too small for passage ot the tie but which are detlectable into positions which momentarily enlarge said opening just sufficiently to permit passage ot the tip when the latter is aligned with the tie, whereby momentary adjustment ot beth the tip and wall portions lirst out of and then back to normalcy will lock the ie in irreiiovable association with said pocket'.

2. ln a tag of the character described, the combination with a tie element having a locking tip which is normally in a locking position relative to the tie but which is adjustable out of said locking position, of a pocket wall having complementary deflecta-ble portions which normally deline an opening too small tor passage oi the tip but which are detlectable into positions which inon'ientarily enlarge said opening just sutilciently to permit passage ot the tip when the latter is out of locking position, whereby momentary adjustment of both the tip and wall portions lirst out of and then back to normalcy will lock the tie in irremovable association with said poclret.

3. In a tag of the character described, the

combination with a tie element having a relatively enlarged locking tip, ot a pocket wall having complementary deflectable portions which normally define on opening too small t'cr passage ot' the tip but which are inwardly deiiectable by the tip itselt'so as to momentarily enlarge said opening just sulilciently to permit passage ot the tip, and the latter being constructed and arranged automatically to assume a relatively transverse position after it has been so passed, whereby the tip may be passed through the wall and hence into the pocket, but whereby the reversion to normalcy of said portions and the automatic positioning of the tip will prevent retractive movement ot the latter through the wall;

l. In a tag of the character described, the combination with a tie element having a locking tip which is normally in a locking position relative to the tie but which is adjustable out of said locking position, said tip having an attenuated end, of a pocket wall having complementary detlectable portions which normally deline an opening too small for passage of the tip but which are inwardly deliectable by the application of said tenuated end thereto to momentarily enlarge said opening just suliiciently to permit passage of the tip, whereby subsequent reversion to normalcy of both the tip and said portions will irreinovably position the tip within said pocket.-

5. In a tag of the character described, the combination with a tie element having an attenuated locking tip of a thickness greater than the tie, said tip being normally transverse to the tie but being momentarily. adjustable into substantial alignment with the tie, of a pocket wall having complementary deflectable portions normally positioned to seal the wall but momentarily detlectable into positions which provide an opening just large enough for passage ofthe .tip when the latter is in said alignment, whereby the application of .said attenuated tip to said portions will deflect the latter to permit passage orn the tip, and whereby reversion to normalcy of both the tip and portions will disalign the tip and cause the portions to seal the wall, thereby irremovably locking the tip within the pocket. y

6. In a tag of the character described, said tag having a pocket which is wholly sealed, but one ot whose walls has an enlargeable opening therein, a binding tie extending through said opening and having a lockino' tip disposed within the pocket, said tip bet ing larger than the unenlarged condition of Y said opening and hence n-ormally unwithdrawable through said opening.

7 The combination with a tie element having an enlarged locking tip, of a wallV having complementary and slightly resilient l Y tions in the direction of their deliection, and

whereby the resilience of the portions, after the passage of' the tip, will sea-l the Wall and prevent Withdrawal of the tip.

In Witness whereof, I have signed and sealed this specification.

HENRY E. KGNDOLF. 

